The Enforcement Directorate conducted raids on premises of three people considered to be Robert Vadra's close aides on Friday and also conducted a raid at Congress worker Jagdish Sharma's residence on Saturday

Abhishek Manu Singhvi&nbsp | &nbspPhoto Credit:&nbspANI

New Delhi: The Congress party on Saturday slammed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at the premises of three aides of Robert Vadra, son-in-law of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday, with Congress’ Abhishek Manu Singhvi calling the raids “cheap stunts”. The ED on Saturday also raised the residence of Congress worker Jagdish Sharma, who is considered to be Vadra’s close aide.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Singhvi accused the ruling BJP party of indulging in “vendetta politics” and said, “To settle political scores in petty manner, cheap stunts are being done by the ruling party.” He also claimed that the Modi government had "sidelined the rule of law" and added that the present government had "resorted to leadership."

“The defeat of BJP in the 5 states has made them nervous, which has led them to divert people with a different narrative,” he said. Incidentally, polling for assembly polls in Telangana and Rajasthan concluded yesterday, with several exit polls indicating that Congress was likely to edge past BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

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Singhvi also said, “Raids were conducted for 24 hours on Mr. Manoj Arora, an associate of Mr. Vadra, besides raiding the residence of associate’s sister, who has a paralysed husband and a child. This was done with neither an FIR nor a warrant.” He alleged that ED officials had threatened employees of the aides who were not allowed to speak to their families or lawyers. “This kind of 'terrorist Raj' is unknown to the ethos of a constitutional democracy like India,” Singhvi said.

ED conducted the raids on Friday at multiple premises in Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru in connection with its probe into alleged "commissions received by some suspects in defence deals" as well as illegal assets amassed abroad.

Meanwhile, speaking to news agency ANI, Jagdish Sharma, who was taken into questioning by ED, said, obert Vadra is being framed. Modi government wants to trap Robert Vadra. Searches are on at my residence. What will they get when there is nothing. They are taking me to Enforcement Directorate office for questioning."

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